Modern Kitchen Ideas for Younger Homeowners

Recent surveys show that the majority of today’s homebuyers belong to the millennial populace which is determined by those who are born between 1981 and 1996. And for them, the kitchen is the heart and soul of their sanctuary. After all, they regard the ability to cook as an essential indicator of successful adulting. From having modern kitchen cabinetry for storage to sprucing things up with personalized accents, these young homeowners have a penchant for a kitchen that’s hip, functional, and reflective of their character. 

Investing in a home you can call your own? In this article, we’re taking you through several modern kitchen ideas for you to consider. 

Airy, open layout. Breaking away from traditional residential floor plans, the millennial home sees the merging of the kitchen to the dining and living areas. When you browse through a modern kitchen photo galley, you’ll notice that many contemporary houses follow this trend — which is accentuated by a cohesive color palette and indoor plants that help distinguish one zone from another. 

A flexible and integrated kitchen experience. Kitchens are an avenue for innovative design and construction solutions. This is especially true for young homeowners who are keen on creating a space that’s tailored to what they need now and what they’d demand in the future. This is why they invest in the so-called "flextension" trend. This is characterized by island units with integrated seating, extended breakfast bars, and countertops that can be used for home office work. 

Built-in appliances and concealed storage. Another signature look of a young homeowner’s kitchen is the modern kitchen cabinetry they gravitate too. Contemporary kitchen designs typically feature full-on concealed storage, open shelving, or a clever combination of the two. And to further maximize kitchen space, built-in appliances are making their comeback and attracting buzz from the younger generation. 

Natural and ambient lighting. A kitchen is not complete without proper lighting. And in this frontier, combining natural and ambient lighting continues to charm young homeowners. Task lighting is also essential to make one’s cooking experience more convenient and efficient. All these lighting elements make for a kitchen space that’s fresh with just the right flair for drama — whether it’s night or day. 

The Two-toned kitchen. If you want to add more twist to your kitchen, opting for a two-toned kitchen can do the trick. And this trend can refer to both colors and textures. For instance, you might want to try pairing up dark-colored cabinetry with light wood flooring and lighter colors for the walls. Or, you can combine wood textures with concrete ones. 

Personalized accessories and accents. When you look for pics via a modern kitchen photo gallery you’d also notice that many millennial kitchens are adorned with customized accessories and accents. This is a great way to create a cooking space that’s unique to your needs — and to your personality. 

A smart and sustainable kitchen. With millennials being knowledgeable about the benefits of carbon emissions combined with of the use of smart technology, it doesn’t come as a surprise why more and more younger homeowners now prefer to have a smart and sustainable kitchen. Modern kitchen trends also give the spotlight to energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly technologies.

Our kitchen design center in NJ shows off several examples of sleek kitchen cabinetry that wows our younger homeowners. Stop into our kitchen design center near Pennington NJ today to see what move them.

What Is a Project Manager and Why Do You Need One?

If you’re considering a remodeling project, hiring a kitchen designer may seem unnecessary and you would be wrong. Most designers are highly skilled at coordinating most aspects of your kitchen makeover in addition to the design aspects.A kitchen project manager will help you coordinate all the moving parts and there can be many. While it may seem that you can save money by doing the design work yourself or by hiring your own professionals, a project manager has the expertise and experience to manage the process via a systematic approach that may save you time and money in the long run.

Here are things that a kitchen project manager can do for you during your remodeling project.

Keep the Project On Time and Under Budget

Working under the assumption that you probably have a full-time job apart from remodeling your kitchen, if you choose to handle the remodeling yourself, you’ll be squeezing the remodeling tasks around your work schedule, working frantically during your evenings and on weekends. Most contractors schedule themselves Monday through Friday between 7 am and 5:00 PM. Remodeling jobs attempted to be complete around your schedule can take a long time and often using talent that is inexperienced or less competent.We know of DIY remodeling projects that have taken years to complete.

Even if you hire quality professionals to do the work, you don’t have the time to hover over them and make sure they are working at a steady pace, and unavoidable setbacks may delay a project by even the most diligent professionals. A project manager can establish a schedule that minimize delays and keeps the project running smoothly and steadily.

Vet Professionals and Ensure High Quality

Hiring skilled and trustworthy professionals is a long process that in itself and requires a lot of time invested in research on your part. A project manager can handle this time-consuming process of qualifying candidates, reviewing project details with those estimating costs and even hiring only professionals with a proven track record of high-quality workmanship and fully insured as to protect your investment for years to come. A project manager can also handle all the confusing permits and paperwork, coordinating with inspectors directly on your behalf, and making sure that the right materials are being used on your project.

Work To Understand Your Vision

If you’re looking specifically for kitchen cabinetry with modern styles, your kitchen project manager will usually has his finger on the pulse of which cabinet makers have the flare you are looking for. A project manager is your advocate, making sure that your vision is realized, and the end result is consistent with the vision that you originally outlined for your kitchen. In other words, a project manager can take your dreams and help make them reality. A Kitchen Designer for Younger Homeowners often has all the project management skills needed and is integral to the success of the remodeling process. Therefore, it is important to consider hiring a company that provides project management in order to successfully bring your project to fruition.